Narok governor reveals last phone conversation with Johana Ng’eno hours before chopper crash
By Mabonga Makhanu, March 1, 2026Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu has recounted the last moments he had with the late Emurua Dikirr, MP Johanna Ng’eno, before the tragic helicopter crash in the Mosop area of Nandi County.
While speaking to the media on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Nandi after the death of the late leader was made public, he stated that he had spoken to Ng’eno on Saturday morning, February 28, 2026, before travelling to Endebess, where he was scheduled to spearhead a fundraiser for flood victims.
He promised to meet him after returning from Endebess, only to receive news of the tragic accident a few hours before their planned meeting.
He went on to send his condolences to the residents of Emurua Dikirr, whom the MP had represented in Parliament for three terms. He further urged them to remain calm as the government conducts investigations into what caused the crash.
“Niliongea na yeye leo asubuhi, kabla hajaondoka huja hapa Nandi, na akaniambia alikuwa anaenda alafu arudi, lakini sikujua hio ndio ilikuwa siku yake ya mwisho,” Ole Ntuntu says.
The crash
The late Ngen’o met his death in Mosop Constituency after the helicopter he was travelling in, alongside five others, crashed in a forest.
According to authorities, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to heavy rainfall in the area and was forced to attempt an emergency landing.
Reports indicate that the pilot had brief interactions with herders in the area to assess the situation before taking off again, only for the aircraft to crash about 300 metres after takeoff.
All those on board were burnt beyond recognition, and the remains of the six are being preserved at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). The body of the MP is set to be airlifted to Lee Funeral Home for preservation.
Johana’s funeral arrangements
The National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has mourned the MP as a devoted leader who served in three committees.
He chaired the Housing and Public Works Committee, which oversaw the construction of affordable housing nationwide, and was also a member of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) and the Liaison Committee of the National Assembly.
The Speaker has now tasked Tinderet MP Julius Melly, assisted by Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri, together with eight others, to liaise with the family on the funeral arrangements of the late MP.